The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-03-24
SESTABLISHED IN
I MARCH, 1S47.
Our Evening Sermon !

"For have given you an example, that
ye should do as 1 have done to you."-
John 49, Is.
There is not perhaps an avenue of NOR
tai experience anywhere in this world, in
which so many and such grievous mis-
takes are made, as in religious experience.
In all the multiplicity of creeds and be-
liefs, there seems opportunity for endless
and proftless discussion among the chill
dren of men. But such discussion is just
what the Christian should avoid. Very
few men are convinced of religious char
acter by hearing the professed possessor
of it quarrel, or seeing him in rage. The
plea of righteous Indignation" or "justi-
fable anger" will not do. There is no
necessity for quarreling about the per
feet peace"
Every man who studies the Bible, feels
that he has the Bible authority with him
as a foundation for his faith and his acts.
But he sometimes gets his authority most
wofully mixed. We have known men
to occupy column after column in the
public prints in useless discussions as to
which "was right" religiously, when the
fact of the matter was-neither was
right. The impression seemed to be,
judging from observations taken this side
of the grave, that Heaven was to be a
place where the Protestants and Catho-
lies should sneer at each other, the Bap-
lists look on the Methodists with horror,
while the Methodists Knocked at the
Presbyterians, and the Presbyterians
poked fun at the Baptists. In such
Heaven, when one Saint should meet an
other, the indignant query might be ex-
pected: How did yoat get here?' The
fact really is, that all Christian people, of
all denominations, are bound for the
same Heaven, and useless discussions
only have tendency to drag the soul
away from the real enjoyment possible
for it. Tie only central idea of Christian
ity, and the one which should lead and
govern the soul, is Christ. We have
known very good men in this world of
ours-some very high in Christian graces
and experiences, but never yet saw one
tian example. The only one ever given
to earth was that of Christ.
We have in this picture of Christ ON
that fatal evening, a beautiful illustra-
ton of true Christian humility. The ten
dency of mortals is too often the other
way. Christ might have said to his dis
ciples, just as many professed Christians
of this day would have said-not ''ye also
ought to wash one another's feet" but
why are your feet not clean, and your
faith perfect, even as mine?" There was
no great show of righteousness there.
Christ knew that he was to be betrayed,
yet his last manifestation of character be-
fore the disciples was that of a willing
ness to perform the most humble and
menial service as an example of Chris
tian love. Many a man in these days of
ours gives in his profession in utter igno
rance of the fact that he is being betray
ed, even then, that his reputation and
traits of character are giving him away
fully as badly as Judas did the Savior,
and that his earthly downfall is distress
ingly near. But at such a time he does
not plead his own weakness and hopes of
Divine help, before men, but shames his
fellows for not being as. good as he.
Think of asking some modern church
members to perform a menial Office for
brother or sister in the church, Think
of asking member of of Society" to
perform an act of humility toward a fel-
low-creaturel Very few, comparatively,
could, or would be willing to, see Heaven
through such a glass as that. Mortal dig
nifty is very stupendous affair. A man
who will fly into rage should a patient,
hard-working wife ask him to bring in a
vase of coal or start kitchen fire, will
frequently squat down in the dirt and to-
bacco juice of the sidewalk, and discuss
politics by the hour. He hasn't time" to
be useful and accommodating about his
home, but his dignity isn't lowered-it
couldn't be any lower-by the street
scene. Why, we are told in the Scrip
lures that the Savior of men washed his
disciples feet. There are thousands of
men, and some of them professed Chris
tians, too, who will not even take the
time and use the eXertion necessary to
wash their own feet-much less the feet
of those about them. The thought Of
Christian charity and magnanimity seems
never to penetrate the garb of selfshness,
and professional meanness with which
some men clothe themselves. The sweet,
almost divine smile of the classroom. de-
velops into contemptuous sneer upon
occasions where social recognition is call
ed for But this is not confined to pro-
Tossing Christians. The church may con-
tain an occasional black sheep-many
well-regulated f1ocks debut there are
vastly more of them out among the world
ly people than among church people. The
one class, however, looks to the other as
an object lesson illustrating the frailty of
human character. Says the world, why
don't the church follow the example of
Jesus?" Says the church. "why does the
world follow the example of the Devil?"
Here is a need of Capitalization of faith,
or rather a union of faith. The wicked,
skeptical sinner wants to get the leer off
of his face, and take up his march toward
Heaven; the unfaithful or alleged Chris
tian wants to do the same thing. Even
the good old, staid, and solemn Christian
wants to cease bearing the cross and
come up to the line of an intelligent
worship of the Father.
That example of the Savior, teaching
humility, is one essential to the success
full teaching of Christian character. If
we are not humble, unselfiSh, there is no
Christians reward for US. That is very
plain and simple proposition. We have
known good old brothers to proclaim be-
fore the world, in public Testimony"